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SF0126 Folktronica
Where folk meets electronics, that’s folktronica, folks.
Category Music Podcast
SF0125 Those We Lost In 2022
A commemoration of the alternative music artists we lost in 2022.
SF0124 Festive Forthy 2022, Pt 3, #14-#1
So, here it is: the best tracks of 2022. And it’s the best year for music ever, as always, with all these songs to add to all the ones from every other year.
SF0123 Festive Forthy 2022 , Pt 2, #27-#15
Part Two in our trilogy of episodes celebrating the best tracks of 2022.
SF0122 Festive Forthy 2022, Pt 1, #40-#28
Part One of three episodes rounding up the best in alternative listening for 2022. Not definitive, not meant to be.
SF0121 Before they found their sound
The sounds before the sounds. What successful bands sounded like before they sold out stadiums. Often better.
SF0120 RIP Mimi Parker (Low) and Keith Levene (PIL)
A tribute to Mimi Parker of Low, and Keith Levene, a founding member of early PIL and The Clash.
SF0119 John Cale at 80
John Cale is 80: no second invitation needed to celebrate the Velvets, his solo work, his musical contributions and his production as well.
SF0118 Don’t let our youth go to waste
Braces, tire swings, then love and other catastrophes. Songs about the indignities and thrills of being young.
SF0117 Perth
Perth, a thousand miles from anywhere else, and West Australia more broadly have always had their unique thing going on. Here’s their unique musical thing.
SF0116 25 years of Mogwai (plus their influences)
25 Years of living under the reign of Mogwai. Interlaced with some influences on the band themselves.
SF0115 Tributes, Odes and Homages
Tributes, hymns, odes to. Songs for, Homages about. Not people though. Binoculars, divorce and androids amongst others.
SF0114 Class and Inequality
Songs about the class system, about the bourgeoisie, about unfairness, about inequality. But with humour too.
SF0113 Neo-Psychedelia
The inheritors of the ’60s psychedelic bands are the latter-day Neo-Psychedelia practitioners. Here’s an episode featuring them.
SF0112 – Bonus Episode: Bands Listeners Are In
The conch is handed to listeners of the podcast who feature here in the bands they play in.
SF0111 Songs about Actors and Movies
Songs about actors, songs about movies, songs about actors in movies.
SF0110 Great Songs on TV Shows
Great tracks from TV shows, good, bad and indifferent.
SF0109 Cameras and Photos
More songs about cameras and photography.
SF0108 Jowe Head (Swell Maps), Guest Host
Guest host this episode is Jowe Head, veteran of many groups and especially beloved by post-punk aficionados for his time in the legendary Swell Maps.
SF0107 Two Tone and its Jamaican Origins
Now there’s a Two Tone museum in Coventry, here’s a celebration of the label and the original ska sound from Jamaica in the ’60s that inspired it.
SF0106 Milestone Birthday Episode
To celebrate a certain milestone, the first letters of the these favourite Sombrero tracks spell out BIRTHDAY EPISODE.
SF0105 30 years of Pavement’s Slanted & Enchanted
It’s 30 years since Pavement’s Slanted & Enchanted landed on our CD shelf. Here’s an episode celebrating its tracks and tracing its influence.
SF0104 Collaborations
Collaborations don’t always work, but these alternative examples of the art form are inspired.
SF0103 Guest Host Guy Haslam
A guest host episode with a member of the Haslam Musical Dynasty – and the UK’s leading cryptic crossword exponent, Guy Haslam.
SF0102 Music of Ukraine
A celebration of the music, mostly alternative, being made in Ukraine today.
SF0101 International Women’s Day Special
To celebrate International Women’s Day, an episode of alternative female artists to watch out for in 2022.
SF0100 Special Extended Edition – All New Artists
For the 100th edition of Sombrero Fallout, listeners have written in with their choice of an artist never previously featured. Plus some surprise guests towards the end behind the mike.
SF0099 Happy Alternative Valentines Day
An alternative world of music for Valentine’s Day
SF0098 Remembering The Associates 25 years on
1980, 1981, 1982. 3 years, 3 towering albums. Memories of The Associates and Billy Mackenzie, 25 years on from his departure.
SF0097 Guest Host Terry Edwards
Terry Edwards, go to session man, but also member of The Higsons, Gallon Drunk and the NJE guest hosts this eclectic episode.
SF0096 Festive Forthy 2021 Part Three, Numbers 13-1
The Top Tracks from 2021 as chosen by Sombrero Fallout. Eclectic, eccentric, essential.
SF0095 – Festive Forthy 2021, Part Two: Numbers 26-14
The second of three episodes rounding up the best alternative tracks from 2021.
SF0094 – Festive Forthy 2021, Part One: Numbers 40-27
The first episode in this year’s best tracks selection, in the opinion of Sombrero Fallout.
SF0093 Australian Post Punk Today
A survey of all that’s great in Australian post-punk over the last few years.
SF0092 – MBV’s Loveless 30 Years On
A celebration of the debt owed by the bands who listened to My Bloody Valentine’s soundscape masterpiece from 1991: Loveless.
SF0091 – Berlin
Berlin, internationally famous for its clubs, its lifestyle, its vibe. Take a tour with a collection of songs about Berlin or recorded in the city.
SF0090 Guest Host Pinko Fowler, Part 2
Part 2 of the Sombrero interview with indie music maven Pinko Fowler. Tales of Mark E Smith, Snub TV and the full-on craziness of Hunter S Thompson, plus classic alternative tracks.
SF0089 Writing, Reading and Libraries
Songs about books, reading, writing, libraries. Unfashionable these days, maybe, but the inspiration for some great tracks.
SF0088 Is modern life rubbish?
Modern life can often be very vexatious, even if cognitively we know we’re better off than ever. Here’s a celebration of how rubbish modern life is.
SF0087 Richard H Kirk of Cabaret Voltaire (1956 – 2021)- A Tribute
Another musical visionary leaves the scene, far too young. Richard H Kirk along with his Cabaret Voltaire bandmates, was a primary architect behind today’s electronic music, as this episode amply demonstrates.
SF0086 Guest Host Pinko Fowler, Part 1
Pinko Fowler has videoed every indie star in the known universe (just about). Friends of the Fall, Sonic Youth, the Pixies, the Jesus and Mary Chain, the Cure, Nick Cave, the Go-Betweens, Pulp, Cabaret Voltaire and dozens more, here’s Pinko’s choice of tracks from his life in indie – plus all the anecdotes on top.
SF0085 Covers from another genre
The very best type of cover song adds something new to the original. The icing on the cake? These tracks switch genre as well.
SF0084 Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry- A Tribute
A tribute to the recently departed Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, the architect behind reggae and dub.
SF0083 – Guest Host Andrew McClelland
Alternative improv comedian and DJ to the stars (e.g. Cher) Andrew McLelland co-hosts this eclectic mix of Australian indie-folk, post-punk, post-rock – and sea shanties.
SF0082 Confessional Songs
Confessionals, memoirs, autobiographies – call them what you like, a collection of brilliant, highly personal songs.
SF0081 The Sparks Brothers and Their Influence
To coincide with the release of Edgar Wright’s outstanding Sparks Brothers movie, here’s 50 years of the Maels and the bands they have influenced.
SF0080 50 Years of Music’s Most Influential Riff
For half a century, one propulsive descending riff has provided not just covers but a framework for any amount of alternative music. Here we delve deeper into this rich history.
SF0079 Guest Host – Rajan Datar
The guest host is Rajan Datar, BBC journalist, star of TV and Radio, and long time bass player in the group he founded, Maroon Town
SF0078 London
From the northern line to the north circular, some tracks celebrating London and London life.
SF0077 Sombr-Euro Fallout
A celebration of alternative European music from countries competing at the 2021 Euros.
SF 0076 Post-Brexit Post-Punk
It’s the third wave of Post-Punk and it’s happening right now!
SF0075 Montreal
From Arcade Fire to Helena Deland, Montreal is arguably the music capital of Canada. Here we take a tour around some of its alternative highlights.
SF0074 Dave O’Neil Guest Appearance
Dave O’Neil, comedian, film star, radio host, TV quiz panellist and bass player with Captain Cocoa, guest hosts this edition, choosing some of his all-time favourite tracks.
SF0073 4AD (historic roster)
Some of the 4AD label’s classic artists: from the Birthday Party to St Vincent, the Cocteaus to Pixies – and some lesser known gems along the way.
SF0072, 50 Years of Brian Eno
Brian Eno has been inventing, making, producing and collaborating on half a century of boundary-expanding music. Let’s celebrate him.
SF0071 Deadpan
A brisk walk through a dark, deadpan, detached setlist. A lot more fun than it sounds. To add one more D, starts with Dry Cleaning.
SF0070 The Long Influence of New Order’s First Year
In their first year (1980-81), before they’d identified their trademark sound, New Order still managed to influence vast numbers of bands with their musical experimentation. This is an episode about that.
SF0069 Ireland (honouring St Patrick’s Day)
A tour through the byways of Irish alternative music over the last half century. From Stiff Little Fingers to Girl Band via Ash and Whipping Boy; The Pogues to Newdad via Stump – and all points in between.
SF0068 Wales (honouring St David’s Day)
From John Cale to the Manics, Anhrefn via the Darling Buds, Colossal Youth through Gorky’s to Derrero and Steveless, a celebration of Welsh music.
SF0067 “This is The Real Indie” – The Millennial NY Scene
If you’re looking for the real indie, here’s the NY/Long Island scene that flourished at the turn of the century. Real authentic, real indie, real cool.
SF0066 Remembering The Fall 3 years on
Three years ago this week we lost Mark E Smith. Here’s a tribute to the music of the man and the music of his group, The Fall.
SF0065 Proto-punk
Punk before punk – how punk is that. AKA garage rock or, as this episode’s title has it, proto-punk.
SF0064 Women to Watch 2021
A chance to hear some of the new female artists destined to make waves on the 2021 alternative music scene.
SF0063 Best of 2020, Part Two, 12-1
A round up of the 12 “best” alternative tracks of 2020. Sombrero Fallout bears no responsibility for the absence of your favourite band, and listeners do so at their own discretion.
SF0062 Best of 2020, Part One 25-13
The first of two episodes curating some of the best alternative tracks of 2020.
SF 0061 The Go Betweens and their Influence
The Go Betweens – the greatest of all Australian bands? Decide for yourself in this episode, paying tribute to the iconic Brisbane outfit and the groups they influenced.
SF0060 Dub and its Post Punk Influence
A look at the link between the original early ’70s dub reggae artists, such as Lee Perry and Augustus Pablo, and their influence on the original late ’70s and early ’80s post-punk bands.
SF0059 21st Century Synths
We know about the golden age of early 80s synth bands, but let’s take a tour round the world of 21st century synth artists.
SF0058 Songs called Love Song
A mix of love songs all titled ‘Love Song’ (more or less) from a mix of genres. Apologies to anyone who has already downloaded the episode earlier. It was withdrawn after the discovery of technical flaws.
SF0057 Nick Drake and His Legacy
A look back at some classic tracks from Nick Drake, tragically neglected in his own lifetime, and the bands that he influenced.
SF 0056 Let’s all meet up in the Year 2000
Let’s do as Jarvis once asked us and meet up in the year 2000 for a look back at that year’s best music.
SF0055 Listeners Recommend
Listeners have their say on bands the podcast should feature. A couple of bands featuring listeners also feature.
SF 0054 Tribute Songs to Musicians
Herein we take a listen to musicians paying tribute to other musicians who are their influences or who deserve especial respect. Or usually both. Plus one anti-tribute, for good measure.
SF0053 Ordinary Lives
As some of us re-enter a brutal lockdown phase, time to celebrate the ordinary lives of everyday heroes.
SF0052 A Kiwi Special! The Flying Nun label and the Dunedin Sound
A Kiwi celebration of the 80s music known as The Dunedin Sound, the Flying Nun label and its influence on the embryonic indie scene in the UK and US.
SF 0051, First Album, First Track
Choice cuts from first cuts on debut albums kick off our second half century of episodes.
SF0050,The Fallout Fifty Part Three, 2004-2019
A celebration of different genres of alternative music, choosing one track a year from the last 16 years. Our 50th episode!
SF0049 The Fallout Fifty Part Two, 1987-2003
A track a year from 1987-2003 to symbolise what was going on in alternative music in the second of three episodes covering the last 50 years.
SF0048 The Fallout Fifty Part One, 1970-1986
The first of 3 episodes with a track from each of the last 50 years.
SF0047 Remembering Joy Division 40 Years On
In this episode, we and other artists pay tribute to Joy Division, 40 years on from their demise.…
SF0046 New York We Love You
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with all our friends in New York with this tribute episode to the city’s great music.
SF0045, Soundtrack to a Future Covid-19 Indie Movie
A unique opportunity to hear this soundtrack to a yet-to-be-written movie about the effect of the coronavirus on the hopes and dreams of one young couple.
SF0044 Songs inspired by authors
In this episode, we have have a listen to songs inspired by authors, from Camus and Dostoievsky to Lovecraft and Kafka.
SF0043, Female Songs, Male Covers
In which we hear varied interpretations by men of women’s songs. For the companion piece, dig out the earlier episode where roles are reversed.
SF0042 International WFH Dance Party
Roll back the rugs. Push the sofa to one side. It’s alternative at-home dance time with Sombrero Fallout’s house.
SF0041, Home Recordings, Third and Final Part
In the third and final part of our Home Recordings series, we bring it home with a genre-spanning episode, from The Streets to Neutral Milk Hotel, from Pavement to Augustus Pablo.
SF0040 Songs Recorded At Home, Part Two
In Sombrero Fallout Episode 40, we continue with Part 2 of songs recorded at home. Appropriate for these times.
SF0039 Songs Recorded At Home, Part One
In Episode 39 of Sombrero Fallout, we tune into songs recorded at home. In self-isolation, if you will.
SF0038 Glam Rock
In Episode 38 of Sombrero Fallout, we take a look at glam rock and its influences.
SF0037 Andy Gill RIP – A Gang of Four Tribute
In this episode we pay tribute to Andy Gill (RIP) of the Gang of Four. Tracks from the…
SF0035 Women To Watch in the 2020s
In this episode of Sombrero Fallout, we listen to tracks from Women To Watch in the 2020s.
SF 0034 Best Of 2010s Numbers 10 – 1
The best 10 (alternative) songs of the 2010s.
SF 0033, Best Of 2010s Numbers 20 – 11
The first of two episodes curating the best alternative music of the 2010s.
SF 0032 1979: Peak Post Punk, Part Two
In the last episode of this series of Sombrero Fallout, we complete our survey of the wonderful year in music that was 1979.
SF 0031, 1979: Peak Post Punk, Part One
In our 31st episode we listen to music from the post-punk year par excellence. 1979.
SF 0030 Indie Football Classics
In our 30th episode, recorded at the same time as the World Cup 2018, we take a look at the indie/football crossover.
SF 0029 The World Cup of Music
A collection of alternative music from the participating nations in the 2018 World Cup.
SF 0028 Slowcore
A tribute episode to the best of Slowcore music from the early 90s and beyond.
SF 0027The Sound of Young Melbourne
In our 27th episode, we listen in to what’s emerging from the streets of Melbourne.
SF 0026 The Natural World
An alternative look at nature, pastoral music and the great outdoors.